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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Experiencing Cyprus Through It's Traditional Desserts

Oh, how I would love to travel the world and sample desserts from various countries. I enjoyed reading this sponsored post about the delectable desserts from Cyprus and wanted to share it with you. Have you tried these desserts? I've had kourabiedes and they were delish. It was fun looking up each. Enjoy! 

The island of Cyprus is known for many things, not the least of which is their impressive range of delicacies, both savoury and sweet. While traditional Cypriot food takes from some of the most delicious culinary cultures in the world (Turkish and Greek) the local fare has a flavour all its own. For visitors who packed a sweet tooth, Cypriot treats are some of the most interesting and delicious sweets your tastebuds will ever know. Here's a simple guide for those flying out the Cyprus with First Choice and wanting to navigate its delicious world of authentic desserts.


Loukoumades
These are essentially tiny, sweet, fried doughballs covered in syrup or honey. They are incredibly delicious and dangerously addictive.

Souzouko
A local favourite at fairs and festivals throughout Cyprus; the dessert is made by dipping strings of nuts in hot grape juice, which then solidifies and creates a sort of candy coating. This treat is both delicious and fun to eat.

Glyko
This dessert is a preserve which can come in a range of flavours including dates, almonds, apricots, cherries, quince or grape. These preserves are traditionally served with a glass of cold water.

Kourabiedes
These are traditional Cypriot almond cakes which are coated in icing sugar. A favourite among tourists, they are abundantly available and truly delectable.

Loukoumi
This is the famous dessert otherwise known as Turkish delight. The sweets are a family of confections which can be simple gels of starch and sugar with some of the more premium varieties including other ingredients like chopped dates, pistachios and hazelnuts that set within the gel. Eaten in small cubes and dusted with icing sugar, if there's one dessert every visitor must try, it's Loukoumi.

Vasilopita
If you're lucky enough to be visiting Cyprus over the New Year, be sure to try this traditional New Year’s cake. There's a gold coin baked into each of these cakes and it is said that the slice with the coin in it will bring good luck for the duration of the year!

Fresh Fruit
There are few more simple and delicious desserts in Cyprus than the bountiful fresh fruit. Local fruits include watermelon, oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, tangerines, melons, apples, pears, prickly pears, cherries, apricots, figs, pomegranates, bananas, plums, grapes and dates. More often than not these delicious fruits are fresher than fresh, typically being picked from a nearby tree and served as they're ordered. There's nothing quite like savouring the fresh flavours of seasonal Cypriot fruits; it is truly the ultimate dessert.

Cypriot fare is absolutely incredible. From the Greek and Turkish influences, to the fresh flavours cultivated in local fields and kitchens, the cuisine is to die for and the sweets are no exception. Whether they're enjoyed at the end of a meal or as a standalone treat, everything from traditional candied nuts to Turkish delight to fresh figs straight from the tree; Cypriots know how to bring sweetness to life in all sorts of delicious ways.

Image by Ale, used under the Creative Commons license.
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46 comments

  1. Well, pardon me as I go on Expedia and plot a trip to Cyprus...
    Haha, man, that sounds awesome! I wish I could sample all the world's cuisines. I feel like we miss so much when we stay within our own country.

    The Dragonfruit Diaries

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  2. I eat Turkish sweets so time ago and they're quite similar to these :) They were delicious, btw ;)

    http://crafty-zone.blogspot.com

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  3. I wish the same Kim!:9 These desserts from Cryprus seem very delectable and delicious. Have a great weekend xo

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  4. I can actually send your a pack of most of these. There are the same with our Greek ones and even have exactly the same!
    I love this post, now I am going to make loukoumades!!

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  5. Interesting! Looks delicoius :)

    kisses

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  6. Oh these sound so nice! Other than fresh fruit (obviously!) I haven't had any of these desserts though!

    Away From The Blue

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  7. Is good to travel and try out what they have to offer in sweets or food these look delicious. Have a lovely weekend.

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  8. wow this is dessert heaven! I've never heard some of these desserts, but I would love to try them :) I have the biggest sweet tooth haha
    www.lettersimpromptu.blogspot.com

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  9. Yummy! I would like to try those loukomades. I wish to visit Cyprus and Turkey too.

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  10. I must admit I've never had Cypriot dessert EVER! I'm missing out! That Loukoumades sounds delish! It reminds me of that Indian dessert Gulab Jamun.

    Have a great Saturday, Kim:)

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  11. thanks for sharing these traditional desserts, Kim!

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  12. Oh Kim, this post made my mouth water! Desserts from this part of the world are my absolute favourite, particularly Turkish delight, although I admit I've never had anything specifically from Cyprus. I may just have to change that!
    xox,
    Cee

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  13. Those look delicious. I wonder if they're the same as turkish delights? I've had those once when one of my neighbors brought some over. They're really good. I'd love to visit Cyprus someday, sounds so exciting.

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  14. I have tried these desserts before, well not the same ones but similar. A colleague bought some during her visit to Cyprus and gave to us. It was way too sweet for me though, but lots of my other colleagues loved it.

    Reflection of Sanity

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  15. I just find your blog aaaand it's supppper cute :) Love it :)

    I followed you <333


    http://kapege23.blogspot.com/

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  16. Very interesting post, Kim! I always enjoy learning more about the cuisines and traditions of the world. And I love the idea of a golden coin hidden in the New Year's cake :)

    I would love to do a cruise around the Mediterranean sometime and Cyprus would be on my list for sure!

    Have a great Sunday xo

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  17. I want to try them all too!! I love trying out new things, especially sweets!

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  18. This post made me droll, I never visit Cyprus, only Corfu.
    P.S: I'm your newest follower. xoxo

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  19. I don't think I've ever experienced desserts from Cyprus before. These all sound so good especially the Kourabiedes.

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  20. these all sounds delectable!!! my gosh, you're making me want to try them (now, i wonder where i can find these types of desserts in my city!)

    Animated Confessions

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  21. Hola Kim, Well I think I'm ignorant but I had to google Cyprus. I don't know why I actually thought it was related to Egypt! What a lot of new knowledge about these sweet treats. I'm not so much of a sweet person but I always enjoy learning new things. I love the decoration in your previous post. SO magical. Happy Thanksgiving (belated)! I wish to play that glass elevator slots so much coz I haven't experienced one whose seat shakes. Must be really fun even if they don't pay well. I do play slots on FB at times and I think it's quite fun.

    Jo
    Jo's Jumbled Jardinière

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  22. they all look great and I think I even tried some of them- at least a very similar version!

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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  23. yum! they all look delicious!
    xox
    borka
    www.chicfashionworld.com

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  24. So many goodies to try! I love tasting things from all over the world. It is really inspiring for ideas in the kitchen.

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  25. Oh these all sound amazing and I have had Loukoumades and they are amazing.

    Allie of ALLIE NYC
    allienyc.com

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  26. I don't really know anything about Cyprus, but it's interesting to read the descriptions as some of the desserts sound really familiar to me because they're popular in surrounding areas.

    7% Solution

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  27. I love trying new deserts or any food for that matter whenever I am abroad.
    Thanks for sharing
    The Doctor Diva

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  28. Oh yum it all sounds so good and i always wondered what Turkish delight was since a wee lass reading Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe:)

    www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

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  29. Yummy desserts. I would not know where to start and which one to pick.
    www.effortlesslady.com

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  30. Yum! I think I'm ready for dessert! So glad you included fresh fruit. That's always a fave of mine. :) T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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  31. So many different desserts to try! Great post!

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  32. Kourabiedes are my absolute favorite. We make them every year for christmas, though I think probably a bit differently. Of course I don't think I would mind the addition of almond...
    Chic on the Cheap

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  33. I need to visit Cyprus soon. Loukoumi (lokum) is very popular in my country too. If I happen to visit USA soon, I'll bring you some!

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  34. Yum, love all of these treats. I like Turkish Delight a lot, so nice. We have it a lot at Christmas. Some of the others I've never had, will have to soon :)) xx

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  35. Thats great! lovely post!!

    I would really appreciated, if we could follow each other on BL and GFC!
    Just started following you and would be delighted if you could do the same!
    xoxo Colli // my blog - tobeyoutiful // Bloglovin'

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  36. Great Guest post! I have never tried any of these. They have a simple look t to them, but sound amazing!The kourabiedes sound amazing!

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  37. Never seen before....sweet!

    missymayification.blogspot.co.uk

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  38. i want to try whatever is in that photo!!

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  39. Yum yum yum! This post is perfect for your sweet blog. Hihi.
    (^o^)

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  40. oh i love these desserts, anything from that part of the world actually. especially kourabiedes - i ate so much of that in greece!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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  41. Oh my yumminess, I'm in love with Turkish candies that are covered in icing sugar but I don't remember their name!
    Baci,
    Coco et La vie en rose - Valeria Arizzi

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  42. Looks delicoius!! Great and sweet post ;)

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  43. I've never tried any of these. I feel so unworldly!

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  44. I've been quite lucky and have tasted many of these.
    When I travel bakeries are a must, even if I don't understand the language, I just try stuff - luckily I don't have any food allergies ;)

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